Neurofeedback Improves Cognitive Performance and EEG Activity in Elderly With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Fabienne Marlats20 enrolled

Overview

This is a non-pharmacological pilot study showing the improvement of a SMR/theta neurofeedback training program on cognitive performance and EEG activity in Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Neurofeedback training (NF) as self-regulation method of brain activity, may be beneficial in elderly with mild cognitive impairment. In this pilot study, the investigators studied whether a sensorimotor(SMR)/theta NF training could improve cognitive performance and brain electrical activity in a sample group of elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment. Twenty participants performed an electroencephalography recording, a battery of neuropsychological tests before the neurofeedback training program (T0), following the neurofeedback training program (T1) and 1-month follow-up (T2).

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Interventions

SMR neurofeedback training to MCIBEHAVIORAL

The intervention consisted to increase the synaptic strengths and sensitivity within this network. Electroencephalography signals for SMR/theta training was recorded at channel Cz according to the international 10-20 system. Theta rhythm was also recorded and, in this case, SMR was stimulated while theta waves were suppressed.A 32 channels system (EEGDigitrcak Biofeedback plus module, Inc Elmiko Medical) was used for the SMR/theta Neurofeedback training.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 65 YearsMax age: 90 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment * education level of 9 years of studies minimum * righthandedness * subjective memory complaint confirmed by an informant * a Mini Mental Status Examination score \>20. * preserve activity of daily living and absence of dementia. Exclusion Criteria: * elderly persons who were under guardianship * resident in nursing facilities * neurological disease, psychiatric disease * and involved in another cogniitve intervention.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Rey Auditory Verbal Learning test

Assessment of verbal learning in episodic memory, evaluating the ability to encode, combine, store and long-term consolidation process.

Time frame: Assessment at baseline, change from baseline to 11 weeks immediately after the NF training and 1 month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes

Relative power for delta, theta, alpha, sensorimotor and lower beta frequency bands.

Electroencephalography was recorded and EEG power spectrum was calculated using the fast Fourier transform. The power spectral density was calculated to extract the relative power for each frequency band and estimated as a log-ratio.

Time frame: Assessment at baseline, change from baseline to 11 weeks immediately after the NF training and 1 month follow-up

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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